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The Original Benjamin ’ s Calabash Seafood restaurant has been serving ocean-fresh fish for more than 30 years in Myrtle Beach , South Carolina . Groups can enjoy crab legs , shrimp , oysters and more as part of the 170-item seafood buffet . The 1,000-seat restaurant has 11 dining rooms , each decorated with historical nautical items , that can accommodate both large and small groups . originalbenjamins . com
Rusty ’ s Surf Ranch is situated on one of Los Angeles ’ top beach attractions , the Santa Monica Pier . Patrons can choose from a wide selection of traditional American food and Baja cuisine — seafood appetizers , beach burgers and daily fish specials — and sample one of Rusty ’ s specialty “ shark bite ” cocktails . The restaurant began a major expansion project last month , so call for details . rustyssurfranch . com
Never bored at this boardwalk
Among the many famous boardwalks found along the U . S . east and west coasts , Atlantic City ’ s stands above the rest . Forever immortalized by the board game Monopoly , the oceanside city is home to dozens of confection and taffy shops , amusement rides , luxury hotels and glitzy casinos .
Two of Southern California ’ s finest
A drive down the Pacific Coast Highway in California takes travelers past some of North America ’ s most beautiful parcels of land . Along the scenic byway , groups can visit two NTA-member attractions to learn more about unique aspects of local culture .
The grounds at Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch in northern San Diego County are covered each year from early March through early May with thousands of Giant Tecolote Ranunculus flowers . In addition to seeing the colorful buds , groups can enjoy a range of tours , special events and themed activities . theflowerfields . com
A visit to Hearst Castle in the coastal city of San Simeon provides a firsthand look at what life was like for newspaper mogul William Randolph Hearst . Guests can see priceless works of art —
all part of the Hearst ’ s vast collection — which are highlighted on themed tours to the various buildings , gardens , terraces and pools . hearstcastle . org
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Whatever floats your boat
Each September , a section of the Rhode Island coast along Newport ’ s America ’ s Cup Avenue is filled with more than 600 boats and nearly 800 exhibitor booths during the Newport International Boat Show . In addition to seeing new and vintage boats , attendees can take part in educational sessions led by boating industry experts . The 48th installment of this popular event will take place Sept . 13 – 16 , 2018 .
Where to go to see sea turtles
Corpus Christi boasts more than 100 miles of beaches along the Texas Gulf Coast , and the city is home to Padre Island National Seashore , which is one of only a few nesting grounds in the world for Kemp ’ s ridley sea turtles . From mid- June through August , visitors can watch as scientists release newly hatched sea turtles into the wild at Malaquite Beach .
Scenery that ’ s par excellent
The gorgeous stretch of California coast that runs through Monterey and Carmel is a hot spot for golfers . The area is home to Pebble Beach and Spyglass Hill , both of which are staples on the bucket list of any self-respecting golf enthusiast . As players tackle these challenging courses , they can take in sweeping views of the picture-perfect coastline .
A salute to sand sculpting
Each November , thousands of people descend on Fort Myers , Florida , for the American Sand Sculpting Championships . The local beaches become the canvas for the creations of the some of the world ’ s best sand artists , who take part in juried competitions . In addition to watching the artists create their masterpieces , festival-goers can enjoy live music throughout the 10-day event .
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